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Book Reviews
Books for Parents of Children and Adolescents
with AD/HD
Books for AD/HD Children and Adolescents
Books dealing with Adult AD/HD
Books on Other
Mental Health Topics
Books for Parents of Children and Adolescents
with AD/HD
-
-
Daredevils
and Daydreamers : New Perspectives on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ,
1997 by Barbara
D., Ph.D. Ingersoll A well-rounded book, dealing with the diagnostic process
and also practical, real-world behavioral issues.
-
Voices from
Fatherhood : Fathers, Sons and AD/HD
by Patrick
J. Kilcarr, Patricia
O. Quinn 1997. Deals with the vital role that fathers can play in the
facilitating the AD/HD childs development.
- Hyperactivity:
Why Wont My Child Pay Attention?
By Goldstein and Goldstein (1992) This book is useful for parents and also for
teachers. It discusses how the traits of a hyperactive child may get him into
trouble at school and make him the family scapegoat at home. It discusses
parenting techniques and advocates multi-modal treatment.
-
Attention
Deficit Disorder: A Different Perceptive
by
Thom Hartmann (1993)
Mr. Hartmann has a unique view of AD/HD. He sees it as a valid cluster of
personality traits that have only become problematic as our society has shifted
to a more sedentary, detail-oriented lifestyle. He suggests that society should
value people with AD/HD because their “action-oriented” style can be
useful in the right situation or the right job. He advocates special learning
environments for AD/HD children. This book raises the interesting question of
how much an individual should conform to society and how much society should
make efforts to accommodate individual differences
.
-
The
Hyperactive Child, Adolescent and Adult (Attention Deficit Disorder through the
Life Span) by Paul Wender, MD (1987)
This was one of the earlier books to discuss criteria for diagnosing and
treating AD/HD in older adolescents and adults. The publication of this book and
related articles made it easier for child psychiatrists to continue to treat
adolescents who had reached adulthood and to actually diagnose AD/HD in adults.
Other physicians have since published broader criteria for the diagnosis of
adult AD/HD. This can be heavy reading for the lay person.
- You
Mean Im Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? By
Kelly and Ramundo (1993)
This book is useful for older adolescents, their parents, and for adults with
ADHD. It gives practical, concrete information on how to organize ones
workspace, and how to manage a schedule. It is easy to read selected parts
individually. The humorous illustrations are a plus. This is a good book for an
AD/HD adolescent to take to college.
-
Driven
to Distraction and
Answers to Distractions by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey .
These books present basic information about AD/HD in a user-friendly format.
Answers is particularly good reading for adults with short attention spans
because it presents material in short chunks. The books discuss both child and
adult AD/HD issues, but the book is aimed at adults. Some adolescents could
benefit from these books too.
Books for Children
with ADHD
-
- Otto Learns About His Medicine by Matthew Galvin
This illustrated book talks about a young car who visits a special engine mechanic and
receives an engine treatment to help him run at the right speed. The author uses this
metaphor to explain the nature of ADHD, the process of getting a psychiatric evaluation
and good questions to ask about medication. The book is aimed at some elementary school
children and some pre-schoolers

- Distant Drums, Different Drummers by Barbara Ingersoll, 1995(Reviewed
in the fall 97 issue of Hypertalk, the newsletter of Baltimore County C
HADD)
This book is aimed at middle and high school students but appropriate for some elementary
school students. The author discusses the positive evolutionary aspects of ADHD. She also
discusses coping techniques and treatment.
-
Review by Nicole, age 10
Do you have ADHD and want to know more about it? The best book for you is Distant
Drums, Different Drummers by Barbara Ingersoll Ph.D.. This book is about the problems
ADHD kids might have and how to solve the problems. For instance, one of the solutions to
the problems is taking a medicine like Dexedrine or Ritalin. Another solution is to keep
your room really well organized, so that you can find everything easily. At the end of the
book is a self-assessment checklist with things such as: “I get along with my
mom”, “I take turns and play fair”, “I stick with my homework until
its done”, and “I take care of my room and my belongings”. You would
check off either no problem or needs work. Dr. Ingersoll is a very
good writer. This book tells almost every little detail that a child with ADHD might want
to know about, except not enough what is good about having ADHD, which is too bad.
The author is trying to write a book to teach children about their disorder.
The moral is no matter what color, race, or disorder, everyone can be friends if you
try. This book is wonderful, telling children scientific facts in an understandable
way that makes the facts un-boring. This book makes children feel good about themselves,
though they have the disorder. I try my hardest to have a few more criticisms for the
book, but I fail to think of even one more bad thing about the book. It tells how maybe
ADHD may be the living warrior of the past disorder. That could make almost any little boy
I know with ADHD feel much better about himself. This book is a wonderful book for any child who battles ADHD. This book is a
book that I recommend to especially little boys, this is because there are a few chapters
which are about age-old warriors, cavemen, and the Middle Ages. The beginning of the book
is for either girls or boys. Adolescents may like the book, but there is a pretty good
chance that they will not want to read this book. That is because this book seems to be
mostly aimed at younger-than-adolescents. The second bad thing about the book is that
through the whole book the author writes ADHD, when some of the people who
read the book might have only Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. I think that the writer
should have written “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention Deficit
Disorder”. That was only a small part of the book though. Still, my over all summary
is: Outstanding!
- Eagle Eyes (A childs guide to paying attention) 1991 by Jeanne
Gehret
This book, aimed at elementary and some middle school students, It tells the story of a
boy who becomes discouraged by his difficulties with attention and organization. He
benefits from evaluation and treatment. Eventually, he comes to see the advantages of some
of his special characteristics. (See Ms. Gehrets book about Bens sister under
“Sibling Issues.”
- Putting on the Brakes
by Quinn and Stern (1991)
This book has become something of a classic during its short existence. It explains, for
the older elementary school and middle school child, the definition of ADHD, and gives
information about how to improve problem areas, such as disorganization. There is a useful
appendix containing information for parents. Parents and children can use this book
together. The authors also publish a newsletter for children with AD/HD.
- My
Brothers a World Class Pain : A
Siblings Guide to ADHD/Hyperactivity by Gordon (1992)
This would be a much better book if the author would change the title. While
the title may accurately reflect the feelings of some siblings, the book
might get left around and generate some hurt feelings. Because of this, I do
not keep it in my waiting room. Once past the title, the book has wonderful,
amusing illustrations and the text keeps elementary school siblings
interested. The sister eventually does come to appreciate her brother, but
kids keep coming back to that title .
- Im
Somebody Too
by Gehret
(1992)
Those who have read Eagle Eyes by the same author will recognize
Emily, Bens older sister. It is aimed at an older elementary school or
middle school child. Emily feels that her parents are ignoring her and
expecting her to maintain perfect behavior so that they can deal with Ben.
Emily and the family work with Bens therapist to gain an understanding of
Emilys own needs. This book may also be useful for other girls who feel
that their families expect them to be too perfect.
- Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention
by Nadeau and Dixon
This book is appropriate for younger elementary school aged children and some older
children who have short attention spans. This book is fast paced and funny. It discusses
the symptoms of ADHD and some possible solutions. I liked it because it can be read
on more than one level. A parent could first read it to a child, and the child could
subsequently either read the entire text, or more likely, read the cartoons and their
captions. This book received the enthusiastic approval of a seven year old. Although he
certainly could have read the entire text, I think that when he was up in his bedroom, he
read and reread the cartoon.
-
Review by Nicole, age 10. The book, Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention, by Kathleen G.
Nadeau, Ph.D. and Ellen B. Dixon, Ph.D., and illustrated by John R. Rose is a wonderful
book for children with ADHD. This book is especially for children ages five to ten. This
book gives children a checklist of their problems, and tells how to solve them. Also,
since children with ADHD have a short attention span, there are fun games scattered
through the book. These games help children with ADHD to stick to the book. There is no
point in getting a book if people put it down after only a chapter. I think it might be
good to photocopy the games in the book so that you can do all of the games and just photo
copy it again when you want to do the games again. I really liked the wonderful cartoons
that relate to the text. These will also help children keep reading the book. This is a
great book, and I recommend it to all children who have ADD or ADHD, or are being
diagnosed for it.
The First Star I See by
Jaye Andras Cattrey
Review by Nicole, age ten
First Star I See by Jaye Andras Cattrey was a four
star book. It was a charming novel for 2nd 5th graders. It
won an “American Bookseller Pick of the Lists” prize. The main character, Paige, has previously been diagnosed with ADD. She
daydreams all the time during class, so much in fact, that her classmates call her
“spacey.” Her class is having a competition to see who can write the best paper on a
space subject that they are assigned. She is absent-minded, so that she forgets about her
paper until it becomes an urgent priority. Meanwhile, her dog is stealing toys from children. Usually innocent children
too. While trying to steal the neighbors cats toy, the dog almost drowns.
Paiges dog provides distraction for her when she least wants it. This book is good for girls because they will see in it a character like
themselves. They can realize that they arent the only person in the world with ADD.
They will find that they can succeed with ADD, and that you dont have to be the
perfect student to get what you want. I would recommend this book for psychiatrists and social workers to have in
their office. It provides something and someone for the children to relate to. Personally
I thought that the book was wonderful and would be a good addition to an ADD-childs
library.
Books Dealing with Adult AD/HD
-
-
Attention
Deficit Disorder: A Different Perceptive
by
Thom Hartmann (1993)
Mr. Hartmann has a unique view of AD/HD. He sees it as a valid cluster of
personality traits that have only become problematic as our society has shifted
to a more sedentary, detail-oriented lifestyle. He suggests that society should
value people with AD/HD because their “action-oriented” style can be
useful in the right situation or the right job. He advocates special learning
environments for AD/HD children. This book raises the interesting question of
how much an individual should conform to society and how much society should
make efforts to accommodate individual differences
.
-
-
The
Hyperactive Child, Adolescent and Adult (Attention Deficit Disorder through the
Life Span) by Paul Wender, MD (1987)
This was one of the earlier books to discuss criteria for diagnosing and
treating AD/HD in older adolescents and adults. The publication of this book and
related articles made it easier for child psychiatrists to continue to treat
adolescents who had reached adulthood and to actually diagnose AD/HD in adults.
Other physicians have since published broader criteria for the diagnosis of
adult AD/HD. This can be heavy reading for the lay person.
- You
Mean Im Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? By
Kelly and Ramundo (1993)This book is useful for older adolescents, their
parents, and for adults with ADHD. It gives practical, concrete information on
how to organize ones workspace, and how to manage a schedule. It is easy to
read selected parts individually. The humorous illustrations are a plus. This is
a good book for an AD/HD adolescent to take to college.
-
Driven
to Distraction and
Answers to Distractions by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey .
These books present basic information about AD/HD in a user-friendly format.
Answers is particularly good reading for adults with short attention spans
because it presents material in short chunks. The books discuss both child and
adult AD/HD issues, but the book is aimed at adults. Some adolescents could
benefit from these books too.
For more
books, including topics such as learning disorders, social skills, and much
more, please see our Book Review Site
Our ADHD Articles
on the Web
ADHD and Medication:
the Basics
Adult Attention Deficit Disorder:
Diagnosis, Accommodation and Mastery
Attention
Deficit Disorder in Children and Adolescents
How Computers Can Help Individuals
with ADD
A poem for ADHD adults: It can be fun.
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends –
It gives a lovely light!
Edna St. Vincent Millay
A Few Figs From Thistles by E. St. Vincent Millay. 1920
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